The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 8 - Philip the Evangelist
The big news this week must be the world cup. How many of us watched it? How many of us made special preparations to get up early, or to go into work early to see it? It is astonishing to hear of the wide range of sacrifices which people have made this year in order to see matches - there was someone who sold his washing machine so he could buy a flight out to Japan! Wouldn't it be great if we could see the same kind of determination and sacrifice and excitement related to Jesus, the saviour?
Something else caught my eye in the news this week. How much would you say a soul is worth? Apparently one hard up student sold his this week for £11.61. He put it up for sale on the Internet with a reserve price of £10. How sad it is that such a low price might be placed on the value of a soul. Jesus said "what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?"
Today we read of a man, Philip, who had a great concern for souls. We only really know about him from Acts 8, although we are briefly introduced to him a couple of chapters earlier - he was one of the men picked out to serve the church in distribution of food, one of the men full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
1. Philip was chosen to serve
Why was he chosen? He was full of the spirit, and of wisdom, a man of good repute. God had prepared him and now was going to use him. Compare Romans 10v14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" Preaching is not merely preparation followed by talking. He is called to preach. Where did Philip go to preach? It is interesting to note that he was one of the Hellenistic Jews, a proselyte - and this may have made him more open to visiting the Samaritans who would normally be rejected out of hand by the Jews. Still, this is just fulfilling the command that Jesus gave back in Acts 1v8 - that the gospel would be spread through Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the whole earth.
2. Philip was called to preach
Look at the response to Philips preaching in 8v6-8. There is a tremendous response, and God had prepared the hearers as well as the preacher. In v9 we have a big "but" introduced to our story though. Simon the sorcerer. He used to amaze people with his tricks and had a big following - but when he found his followers were running after this Philip he decides to find out what is happening for himself. Well, he listened, believed and was baptised, following Philip around. What was the problem with that you might ask? Well, compare the situation with John 8v30... and v31. Or John 6v66. The evidence of truly belonging to Jesus is not just a statement of belief or commitment - the evidence that we are really his is that we continue and grow; that the Holy Spirit has performed divine surgery on us and given us a new heart.
The introduction of the apostles in v14-17 is interesting. The Hebrew Christians probably still were not considering the Samaritans, the "mostly gentile" neighbours as possible recipients of the gospel. Nevertheless, the apostles come down, and pray, and the Holy Spirit comes upon these new believers. We then see the true heart of Simon. Peter recognises that although Simon "believed", he didnt' have saving faith. Simon was exposed. His heart was not right before God.
Let's pause a moment. Which category are we in? Superficial faith or saving faith? We hear nothing more about Simon but the implication is that he wasn't saved - we don't hear of him praying, merely requesting that someone else pray for him.
There is a story about Abraham Lincoln visiting a slave market, which he detested. While there he spotted a pretty young girl, and he was horrified at the thought of what would happen to her if she fell into the hands of a depraved master. So he purchased her and then set her free. Upon being told she was free, the girl asked, incredulously, "Am I free to think what I want?"
"Yes" he replied
"Am I free to do what I want?"
"Yes" he replied
"Am I free to go where I want?"
"Yes" Lincoln replied
"Then" she said "I'll come with you".
Jesus frees us from slavery and bondage to sin, so that we might choose of our own free will to "come with him".
3. Philip was commissioned to evangelise
Suddenly we see Philip visited by an angel, calling him to leave his successful ministry and mission field and go out into the desert. Philip simply obeys, he doesn't prevaricate or complain. It turns out that there is someone in this bit of desert after all. A high official, a proselyte worshipper of God who was now returning from Jerusalem and passing time by studying the book of Isaiah.
Once Philip was in the desert, the Holy Spirit directs him further, gives him the next step in his journey. God often waits for our obedience to one command before giving us the next one.
And after this event? we see Philip travelling on - and still preaching!
Are we chosen to serve, called to preach, commissioned to evangelise? Yes, we are. We are not all given the task of preaching from a pulpit, but we are all chosen to serve and to preach with our works and our words, whereever we are.
Harry Smith
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